PERKIOMEN — On the supposed last day of a late-spring heat spell, the Valley Forge Generals traveled to Perk Valley to take on the Raiders in Sunday morning’s Greater Norristown American Legion contest.

Though the weather was hot, Perk Valley pitcher Quinn Kelly’s hand was hotter as he guided the Raiders for six innings of three-hit ball en route to a 6-3 win.

The game started off shaky for Kelly and his Raiders. VF leadoff man Chris Loschiavo singled to left and advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a groundout by Mike Custer before coming around to score on another ball that PV catcher John Turner let through his legs.

While the inning ended after a pop fly to first and a comebacker to Kelly, the game seemed to be starting well enough for VF, but that run was all that the Generals were able to muster off of Kelly.

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“We’ve struggled to score runs this year,” Valley Forge manager Rich Lachenmayer said. “We go up 1-0 in the first inning every game, and then after that the wheels fall off.”

The Generals’ wheels did indeed fall off in the next inning. Perk Valley was able to push four runs across the plate — of which only two were earned — on just one hit in the frame.

Brett Davis led off the inning by singling to right. He came around to score when VF catcher Christopher Curll sent a ball sailing into left field on Davis’ attempt to steal third after shortstop Jarrod Quinn failed to cover on a bunt attempt.

An RBI groundout and a weak comebacker later, VF pitcher Mike Shannon seemed to be on his way out of the first when Quinn again lapsed and booted a ground ball hit that would have ended the inning, allowing a run to score. Shannon hit the next batter, Jake Riehs, with the bases loaded, plating another run. Davis grounded out in the next at-bat, mercifully ending the frame.

“(Shannon) was one of our best pitchers last year, and he didn’t play in college, so now he’s got to find a groove again. Once he got through the first inning, he settled down,” Lachenmeyer said.

“Unfortunately, (Quinn) didn’t make that play in the first inning. If he makes that play, the score’s 2-1, but now it became 4-1,” he said. “It’s the little things.”

With all the run support he would have needed, Kelly cruised through the next five innings, striking out six General batters, while walking only three and scattering two hits.

Perk Valley’s four-run first “Gave me some breathing room,” Kelly said. “I was able to use my defense and not have to be too perfect ... it makes it a lot easier when I’ve got that lead.”

“I started mixing my off-speed pitches a lot, to keep them off-balance,” he continued. “I was able to throw my curveball for a strike, which was a really big thing.”

Perk Valley tacked on another run in the third on Conner Grande’s sacrifice fly and again in the fifth after DiLeonardo tripled and scored on Grande’s double.

“That was a good sign for us,” Perk Valley manager Steve Banion said of the Raiders’ fifth inning. “The last couple games, we’ve had to try to manufacture some runs. Today was the first time we’ve really had some extra base hits.”

In spite of the loss, Lachenmeyer did have good things to say about his team’s performance.

“The boys swung the bats much better today,” said Lachenmeyer. “They were making good contact and hitting line drives.”

“It’s just a matter of time,” Lachenmeyer continued. “It’s a long season, and we were much improved today. That’s what we were going for.”

Perk Valley’s next game is at home against Mt. Carmel next Wednesday at 6 p.m. Valley Forge also plays Wednesday at 6, hosting Whitpain.